Wiki
Clear explanations of key terms around e-commerce, software development and artificial intelligence.
- 301 RedirectA 301 redirect is a permanent server-side redirect that permanently directs users and search engines to a new URL – whilst transferring the ranking signals accumulated by the old address.
- Adobe CommerceAdobe Commerce is the commercial, licence-based version of the Magento platform, featuring native B2B functionality, a page builder and integration with the Adobe Experience Cloud. This article explains the range of features, the GMV-based pricing model, cloud versus on-premises operation, and how it differs from Magento Open Source and Shopware.
- AI AgencyWhat an AI agency does, how it differs from consultancy firms and tool providers, how much it costs, and how to spot a good one.
- AI labelling obligationThe AI labelling obligation under Article 50 of the AI Act makes AI chatbots, deepfakes and certain AI-generated texts recognisable. It has applied since 2 August 2026.
- AI literacyAI literacy is the ability to use AI systems in an informed way and to realistically assess their opportunities, risks and possible harm. Article 4 of the EU AI Act has made it mandatory since 2025.
- AI visibilityThe probability that a brand or website will appear as a source or recommendation in a response generated by a language model.
- Answer Engine Optimisation (AEO)The optimisation of content and data so that it appears as a source in direct responses from answer engines such as ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews or Featured Snippets.
- App Store Optimisation (ASO)App Store Optimisation (ASO) makes apps visible in the App Store and turns visitors into installs. Visibility and conversion explained.
- App Store ReviewThe App Store review is the process that takes place before an app is published. How it works at Apple and Google, the most common reasons for rejection, and how to avoid them.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)Künstliche Intelligenz bezeichnet Computersysteme, die Aufgaben übernehmen, die üblicherweise menschliche Intelligenz erfordern – etwa Sprache verstehen, Muster erkennen oder Entscheidungen treffen.
- BFSG (Accessibility Strengthening Act)The BFSG is Germany’s implementation of the European Accessibility Act and has applied since 28 June 2025. It obliges providers of B2C online shops and other services to ensure digital accessibility; in practice, the technical standard is WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
- ChatGPT AdsChatGPT Ads are paid ads labelled “Sponsored” below ChatGPT answers, booked by auction. They have been running in Germany since August 2026.
- Composable CommerceAn e-commerce architecture approach in which the platform is composed of interchangeable best-of-breed building blocks that are connected via APIs.
- Cross-platform developmentCross-platform development refers to the approach of building an app from a single codebase for multiple operating systems, such as iOS and Android, rather than developing a native app for each platform separately.
- Declaration of UndertakingA cease-and-desist declaration is a promise, subject to a penalty, to refrain from certain conduct in future – the actual financial risk underlying every warning letter.
- DeepfakeA deepfake is AI-generated image, video or audio content that appears authentic. Since 2 August 2026, a disclosure obligation has applied to it.
- E-invoiceUnder Section 14 UStG, an e-invoice is a structured data set in line with EN 16931, not a PDF. You have had to receive it since 1 January 2025 and must issue it from 2027 or 2028. This entry explains formats, deadlines, exceptions, archiving and what the switch in ERP and shop really costs.
- EAV model (Entity-Attribute-Value)The EAV (Entity-Attribute-Value) model is Magento’s flexible but fragmented product data model — and the reason why a migration to Shopware requires data mapping.
- ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)Centralised business software that bundles core processes such as merchandise management, purchasing, finance and production in one system.
- EU AI ActThe EU AI Act, Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, regulates AI according to four risk classes. It has largely applied since 2 August 2026; high-risk obligations follow from the end of 2027.
- EU-US Data Privacy FrameworkThe EU-US Data Privacy Framework authorises data transfers to certified US companies – how it works, status in 2026 and the Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) as a fallback option.
- Generative AIGenerative AI creates new content such as text, images, audio and code instead of merely classifying it. Definition, how it works, use cases in SMEs and its limits at a glance.
- Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO)Optimising content so that generative AI systems cite it as a source and incorporate it into their answers.
- Google AI ModeThe dialogue-oriented, AI-supported version of Google search that generates answers directly on the results page.
- GPTBotGPTBot is OpenAI's web crawler that captures publicly accessible websites to collect training data for the GPT models. Operators control access via robots.txt - or block it unintentionally via firewall and WAF.
- Gross Merchandise Value (GMV)Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) is the total trading volume processed via an e-commerce platform or marketplace over a given period. This article explains how it is calculated, how it differs from turnover, its role as a basis for calculating licence fees (e.g. for Adobe Commerce and Shopware) and common misconceptions.
- Headless CommerceAn e-commerce approach in which the front end (the storefront) is decoupled from the commerce back end and connected via APIs.
- High-risk AI systemA high-risk AI system is the most strictly regulated permitted category of the EU AI Act, with obligations such as risk management, documentation and human oversight.
- HydrationHydration is the process by which static HTML delivered from the server is made interactive in the browser using JavaScript, thereby transforming a fully rendered page into a usable application.
- Information GainInformation Gain: The added value of new information that a piece of content provides compared to the consensus – a key factor in AI citations.
- Keyword researchKeyword research reveals which search terms your target audience actually uses, how competitive they are, and the intent behind them. It forms the foundation of any SEO and content strategy.
- Large Language Model (LLM)A Large Language Model is an AI model that has been trained on vast amounts of text and understands and generates language by predicting the most likely next word.
- llms.txtA proposed Markdown index at the domain root that tells language models which website content should be processed in machine-readable form.
- Long-Tail-KeywordA long-tail keyword is a longer, specific search query with low search volume but a clear intent and low competition. Overall, the long tail accounts for around 91 per cent of all searches.
- Magento Open SourceMagento Open Source is the free, self-hosted, PHP-based e-commerce platform from the Adobe ecosystem. This article explains its architecture, cost structure, B2B limitations, support timeline and how it compares strategically with Adobe Commerce and Shopware.
- Minimum Viable Product (MVP)The simplest functional version of a product that is sufficient to test the main assumption with real users.
- Pillar PageThe pillar page is the central page of a topic cluster: comprehensive, linked to all the spoke pages, and the foundation for topical authority.
- Privacy PolicyThe privacy policy fulfils the obligation to provide information under Article 13 of the GDPR – what mandatory information it must contain and how it differs from the cookie banner.
- Process AutomationProcess automation is the automation of business processes so that recurring tasks are carried out without manual intervention – more quickly, with fewer errors and around the clock.
- Query Fan-OutQuery Fan-Out: How AI search systems break a query down into many sub-queries, search them in parallel and combine them into a single answer.
- Relevance EngineeringRelevance engineering is the technical discipline of structuring content in such a way that AI search systems cite it as a source for their answers.
- ReplatformingReplatforming refers to the process of migrating an existing online shop or digital platform to a new technical system. This article explains the reasons for replatforming, the process involved, typical risks (extensions, custom code, redirects), the timeframe, and how it differs from migration and replatform.
- REST APIA REST API is a web interface whose resources have their own URLs and are handled via HTTP methods. With examples from Shopware and NestJS.
- Search intentSearch intent describes the actual purpose behind a search query. Meeting this intent is the most important factor in ensuring that content ranks well and users are satisfied.
- Shopware B2B ComponentsThe Shopware B2B Components are the modular successor to the B2B Suite: six modules that can be activated individually for digital business-to-business commerce.
- Shopware Migration AssistantThe Shopware Migration Assistant transfers data from Shopware 5, Magento and other systems to Shopware 6 — but only covers the data aspect of a replatforming process.
- Single-page application (SPA)A Single Page Application (SPA) is a web application that loads just a single HTML page and dynamically reloads all further content using JavaScript, without having to completely reload the page.
- SpecificationsIn German IT projects, requirements are split across two documents: the Lastenheft (client's requirements specification) and the Pflichtenheft (contractor's functional specification).
- Store APIThe Shopware 6 client-side REST interface — the foundation of every decoupled (headless) Shopware front end.
- Thematic clustersA topic cluster brings together a topic via a pillar page and linked spoke pages – the architecture behind topical authority.
- Topical AuthorityTopical Authority refers to a domain’s thematic authority – built up through comprehensive topic coverage and topic clusters.
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)The total costs of a system over its entire life cycle - not only the purchase price, but also operation, maintenance and follow-up costs.
- Type SafetyType safety means that a programming language or tool detects errors caused by incorrect data types before execution, rather than allowing them to occur at runtime for the user.
- Vector DatabaseEine Vector Database speichert Daten als Vektoren (Embeddings) und findet darin nach ähnlicher Bedeutung statt nach exakten Begriffen – die Grundlage semantischer KI-Suche.
- Vendor lock-inVendor lock-in describes the economic and technical dependency on a single provider, which makes switching expensive and time-consuming. How it arises and how you can limit it pragmatically.
- Vibe CodingVibe coding refers to the creation of software by describing the goal to an AI in natural language and adopting the generated code largely unchecked. Fast for prototypes, risky for production systems.
- VoicebotA voicebot understands spoken language in real time and answers calls – an overview of its definition, how it works, its uses, costs and the GDPR.
- Warning letterA formal warning is an out-of-court demand to cease unlawful conduct – in e-commerce, this is the most significant legal risk in day-to-day business.
- Withdrawal buttonSince 19 June 2026 (§ 356a BGB), the withdrawal button has been mandatory for online shops: a two-step button that lets consumers withdraw from contracts in just a few clicks.
- Zero-click searchA search that ends without clicking on an external page because the answer is already on the search results page.